Latch



J. H. BOURGON July 20 1926.

LATCH Filed March l2. 1925 3 INVENTOR domi-PH h. owo/v Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,593,011 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. BOURGON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKER COR- PORATION, F SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION -OJE NEW JERSEY.

LATCH.

Application led March 12, 1925. Serial No. 15,110.

This invention relates generally to door latches, and particularly to that type of latches provided with means for forcing the door open when the latch bolt is withdrawn,

such latches being particularly intended f or tightly fitting doors such as are ordinarily employed on motor vehicles and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a latch of the class described provided with resilient means independent of the latch bolt for holding the latch bolt and catch in tightly engaged position when the door is in closed position, thereby preventing rattling or shaking of the door.

Another object is to provide a latch of the class described provided with resilient means for causing the door to beprojected open a small amount from closed position immediately upon release of the latch bolt from the catch.

Another object is to provide a latch of the class described provided with a spring actuated arm which abats against the catch and which is moved to compress the spring when the door is closed, the tension of the spring acting to move the lever to force the door open when the latch bolt is withdrawn from engagement with the catch.

A further object is to provide a latch of the class described adapted for use with the door or cover for the rear compartment or those types of motor vehicles provided with rear compartments, in combination with means for releasing the latch bolt from a $5 point in the driving compartment of such vehicle.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combina- 0 tions of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in View.

In the accompanyin drawing, which illustrates a suitable emodiment of the present invention, and in which like numerals refer to like 'parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. 1`is a fragmentary perspective rear quarter View of a roadster type of motor vehicle, showing the rear compartment cover or door in o en position and showing the relative positlon of the latch, embodying the present invention, and its handle in relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the latch and immediately adjacent fragmentary parts of the body of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1, the rear compartment cover being shown in closed position, it being understood that the longitudinal axis of the latch corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the relative positions of the parts when the latch bolt is withdrawn and the cover in the slightly open position to which it is moved by the spring actuated arm.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latch assembly.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the catch member.

Although it will be evident that the invention involved may be utilized in a variety of diiferent latch applications, the embodiment shown in the drawing is employed in combination with a motor vehicle body 10 having a rear compartment 1l and a door or cover l2 therefor, the cover 12 being hinged to the body at the rear edge of the opening leading into the compartment 1l as is usually the case in those constructions where an extra passenger seat is provided in the rear compartment and which folds up within the compartment when the cover is closed, the cover in such cases being generally utilized as a back for the seat when in open position.

Secured to the wooden frame member 13 which extends across the forward edge of the opening leading into the rear compartment 11 is the latch embodying the present invention comprising a plate 1l which is adapted to be secured to the frame member 13 by screws or by other suitable means, a latch bolt guiding portion 15 and other parts as will hereinafter be described. The latch bolt guiding portion 15 is preferably of square section and rests against the upper face of the plate 1i to which it is suitably secured, and projectsoutthrough the upwardl)7 extending flanged face portion 16 of the plate 1l. The latch bolt 1T is slidably retained in the guide 15 with its upper outer face rounded 0E as in conventional constructions, and is backed by a coil spring 18 which is normally in compressed state between the end of the bolt 1T and the plate 19 which closes the'iear end of the guide 15,

and which consequently tends to roject the bolt 17 out of the opposite end o the guide 15. A catch member 20, secured to the forward face of the forward frame member 21 of the cover 12 by screws such as 22, is provided with the usual recess 23 for reception of the end of the bolt 17 and is also provided with a downwardly extending rounded projecting portion 24 which is not only employe for the purpose of automatically causing the bolt 17 to be retracted when the cover 1s moved to close position, but also for another purpose to be presently described.

Moulding strips 25, secured to the side of the frame member 13 and to the remaining frame members (not shown) surrounding the opening leading into the compartment 11 act as a stop for the edge of the cover 12, and a strip of rubber 26 or the like material is clamped between the strips and the frame of the opening mentioned, it being provided with an inwardly and upwardly extending flexible edge against which the edge of the cover 12 abuts when in closed position and which effects a rain tight joint.

The latch bolt 17 is operated or retracted by means of a rod 27 which is screw threaded into the rear end of the latch bolt 17 and which extends through the plate 19 and the partition 28, which separates the rear com partment 11 from the driving compartment, and terminates in the driving compartment in a pull handle 29, so that to withdraw the latch bolt 17 it is only necessary for a person in the driving compartment to pull the handle 29 and the cover 12 is free to be swung up into open position. The rod 27 is supported in the partition 28 by a rubber grommet 30 which is supported by a metal f plate 31, which in turn is secured to the partit-ion 28 by screws such as 32, or like means,

thereby insuring against rattling of the rod 27.

In order that the latch bolt 17 will not have to be held in retracted position until the cover 12 is opened, means are provided for causing the cover 12 to open far enough, upon retraction of the bolt 17, to force the catch up out of bolt engaging position and to raise the cover 12 a sufficient amount so that it may be easily grasped to open it to full open position. The means employed is as follows: A lever member 33, pivoted adjacent its mid point on a horizontal pin 34 carried by two ears 35 depending from the .under side of the plate 14, extends to a point immediately under and engageable with the projecting part 24 of the catch'20. That part of the lever 33 on the opposite side of the pin 34 is formed into an upwardly opening cup portion 36 in which a coil spring 37 is positioned normally under compression between the bottom of the cup 36 and the under side of the plate 14, nordownward,

mally tending'to force the cup end of the lever 33 downward. A downwardly extending projection 38 formed in the plate A14 serves to hold the spring 37 in proper position in respect to the cup 36. An upwardly extending projection 39 formed on the catch engaging end ofthe lever 33 is adapted to abut against the lower face of the plate 14 and acts to limit the upward movement of the catch engaging end of the lever 33.

lhen the cover 12 is open, the lever 33 lies in the position shown in Fig. 3. When the cover is closed, the projecting end 24 of the catch 20 forces the engaging end of the lever 33 downward to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position the recess 23 is in such position that the bolt 17 may be projected thereinto by the force of the spring 18. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, when the cover 12 is in full closed position, and the handle 29 is pulled, the latch bolt 17 is retracted from the recess 23 and the force of the coil spring 37 forces the cup end of the lever 33 downward and at the same time forces the opposite end of the lever 33 upward, carrying with it the forward edge of the cover 12 an amount as indicated in Fig. 3. This amount is sufficient to raise the catchr20 out of engaging position with the bolt 17, and is also such that the forward edge of the cover 12 may be easily grasped to open it farther. If the cover 12 is open and is dropped or forced to closed position, the projecting end 24 of the catch 2O will cause the bolt 17 to recede in the conventional manner until the lower face of the recess 23 matches with its lower face, at which time the bolt is projected into the recess 23. At the same time the catch 20 is forcing the bolt 17 back as just described, its projecting end 24 is also forcing the engaging end of the lever 33 and when the bolt 17 has dropped into the recess 23, the pressure of the spring 37 causes the end of the lever 33 to firmly bear against the catch 20 and to hold the same firmly against the bolt 17 thereby tendingto prevent any movement of the cover 12 thatvmight cause a rattle.

It will be evident to anyone skilled in the art that a spring o erated lever such as 33 may be readily a apted to latches other than the specific type shown, and I do not limit myself to .the specific embodiment shown and described, but `broadly claim as my invention that which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a latch mechanism, a frame member carrying a retractable bolt, a catch, means for retracting said bolt, and a resiliently actuated member carried by said frame and pressing against said catch when said catch and said bolt are in engaged position whereby said catch will be projected out of bolt catch being provided engaging position when said bolt is retracted. A

2. In combination with a door and its frame, a latch mechanism therefor comprising a plate carried by one of said parts and a catch carried by the other, said plate being provided with a retractable bolt engageable with said catch and means for retracting said bolt, and a spring pressed member carried by said plate engageable with said catch and vtending to move the latter out of bolt engaging position.

3. In combination with a door and its cooperating frame, a plate carried by one of said parts and a catch carried by the other, said plate carrying a retractable latch bolt engageable with said catch when said door is in closed position, and a spring pressed lever mounted on said plate having an end engageable with said catch when said door is in closed position whereby said lever tends to project said door into open position.

4. In combination with a door and its c0- operating frame, a plate carried by one 0f said parts and a catch carried by the other in co-operating relation, said plate carrying a retractable spring pressed latch bolt, said with a recess for receiving said bolt when said door is in closed position and an extending projection, and a spring actuated lever pivoted to said plate to swlng about a line parallel to the pivoted line of said door and having a portion theneof abutting against said projection on said catch when said door is in closed position whereby said catch is resiliently held against said bolt to prevent relative movement between said parts when said door is in closed position and whereby said door will be pro- 'ected out of closed position when said latch olt is withdrawn from engagement with said catch.

5. In combination with a vehicle body having a driving compartment and a rear compartment separated therefrom by a partition, a door for said rear compartment and a latch mechanism for said door, said latch mechanism comprising a latch frame and a retractable bolt, means extending through said partition into said driving compartment for retracting said bolt, and means Earried by said latch for projecting said door out of closed position when said bolt is retracted.

. 6. In combination with a vehicle body having a driving compartment and a rear compartment, a hinged cover for said rear compartment, a latch mechanism for said cover comprising a retractable bolt ycarried by said body and a catch carried by said cover, means extending into said driving compartment for retracting said bolt, and spring operated means carried by said latch mechanism for moving said cover out of closed position upon retracting said bolt.

7. In combination with a vehicle body having a driving compartment and a rear compartment, a hinged cover for said rear compartment, a latch mechanism for said cover comprising a plate carrying a spring actuated retractable bolt secured to said body and a catch carried by said cover cooperable lever carried by said plate engageable with said catch when said cover is in closed position whereby when said latch is retracted from engagement with said catch said cover is moved out of closed position, an operating rod secured to said bolt and extending into said driving compartment, and a handle for Signe by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 9th da of March, 1925.

. JOSE H H. 'BQURGONZ operatin said ro with said bolt,` a spring actuated 

